The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-30
HOODS VETERANS.
The Old Brigade Meets in An
nual Reunion.
A Business Meeting Yesterday
Morning, and a Barbecue
at Barton Springs.
Governors and Congressman Speak
Eloquently of the Days That
Tried Mems Souls.

Tried Mems Souls.
The remnants of the gallant brigade
which, on the fields of Virginia, during
the great war, won renown for themselves,
and fixed the fame of Texan soldiery upon
the highest pinnacle reached by any state
in the struggle, met in this city yesterday
IN annual reunion. Hoods Texas brigade
the synonym of dash and gallantry, the
fore front of many charge that won the
day; the pride of Lee and jackson and
Longs rect; the love of Hood and Gregg
and Robertson-around the very name
there clings the aroma of chivalry! OF
$500 daring men who went into the thick
of the shot and the shell, tenth returned
at the close of the struggle, and of these
two thirds have since passed over
the river and joined their
comrades and old commanders on the
other side. OF the hundred who were here
yesterday, empty sleeves, shattered limbs
and weather beaten faces attest the raw.
ages that were wrought by the four years
spent in the campaigns of Virginia. And
dearer than all, the sight of the old vet
Grams as they greeted one another, and as
their eyes moistened when touching mem
cries of the sorrOwful past were raised,
attested the sacredness with which they
surrounded the occasion of their as
sembling.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
1t was but few minutes past o'clock
yesterday morning when the old soldiers,
who had been assembling for an hour at
Nagle's store on the Avenue, formed in line,
and, preceded by brass band, marched
to the capitol. Here there were already
gathered crowd of ladies and gentlemen.
The veterans filed into representative
hall, which was speedily filled. The assO-
citation was called to order by Major j. II.
Littlefeld, of Bryan, the vice president.
Rev. Mr.. Atkinson was introduced and Of
fered feeling invocation to the Throne
of Grace. General A. S. Roberts, chair
man of the local committee of arrange
ments, then introduced
HON. j. W. ROBERTSON,
mayor of the city of Austin, who delivered
an eloquent and touching address of wei
come. Col. Robertson's address was as
follows:
Soldiers of Hoods Brigade-I need not say to
you that all the men, all the women and all the
children of all naOnalites of all races, of all re-
lguns, of all pOlit cal faiths, whether from north
or south or foreign shore, who dwell in this city
or who dwell in this country, unite in this vel
come, this cordial, sincere welcome to the heroic
survivors of Hoods Brigade. This demonstration
Is not intended as mere token of hospitality and
friendship. 1t means something more 1t is a
manifestation of the grateful Affection respect and
esteem we have for the brave men whose herOism
on the battlefield has secured for them and for
the cause for which they fought an i'm
perishable name. We tender you this testimony
of our remembrance of the sacrifices you made
as Confederate soldiers, of the dangers and pers
you endured, and of the unfading lustre of your
valor In the field.
quarter of century ago to-day, on the evening of
June II, 1862 Hoods brigade moved up on the |
line of battle ready for action. To the right, |
along Powhite creek the combat ragged with ter |
rible fury, while the invinCible columns of Stone
wall jackson we're noiseessly but surely winding |
their way around to the right of the federal army
The brigade advanced, led by that knightly chief
tain, the brave and heroic John b. Hood With
steady tread and coors flying, and with the 'rebel
Yell rising above the flame and roar of battle, they
charged upon the enemy intrenched behind double |
lines of breastworks, supported by well served
batteries, sliced his guns and drove
him from stronghold he believed impregnable |
The federal line was pierced and broken by this |
determined and brilliant assault, and general ad
vance of the Confederate army swept the enemy |
from the field. Night came on and closed over the
scene. The battle of Gaines Mill had been fought
and won The sun went down on bloody field |
and our flag loated, proud and victorious, while |
the friendly darkness covered the retreat of the
defeated and flying enemy Hoods brigade torn
and bleeding from the terrible conflict slept on
the battlefield where its valOr had gained immortal
renown, and hope, exultant, joyful hope rested
upon the victorious banners of the young Confed-
eracy.
The Federal army was defeated but the battle was
not decisive. The beaten army wa, rallied and
was ready to renew the battle with the dawn of
morning. 1t s fact, an historic and indisputabe
fact, that in this great war, with more than twenty
general engagements and more than two thousand
conflicts of arms there no battle fought vito
decisive results. True it H., that at Done on and
Nicksburg, and at other places, armies we're snr
rendered, hut the loss was too small, aud the blow
too insignificant to make any lasting impression
on tue final result. At fredericksburg, Burnside
was repulsed with appalling slaughter, but his
army was not routed or seriously demOraliZed and
he stood ready to meet his enemy at any moment.
The federal army sustained an overwhelming de-
feat at Chckamauga, but it tired, gathered fresh
strength behind its fortresses, and finally drove
the Confederate forces from Missionary ridue
and from The invinCbe fastness of Lookout Noun
tain. But the defeated Confederate army rallied,
reorGanized, and fought with brilliant and dis
tingulshed courage on many other historic battle
fields
At Shiloh the Confederates first won, then loet,
great battle but the enemy was not able to give
pursuit. Sharpsburg was drawn battle, and so
were lue leIElUC engagements IN the Wilderness
and at SpOtsylvania. The great as
sault at Gettysburg, the grandest illustration
OF heroic courage that is recorded in the worlds
history failed of success, and the assauting col
umu, nearly annihilated, was hurled back from
Cemetery hill with awful slaughter, Terminating in
disaster such AS no army, save the Army of North
ern Virginia ever yet survived. Notwithstanding
the utter defeat of the Confederate army il suen-
ly retired across the Potomac unmolested The en-
eng, though masters of the field were appalled, ut
the terrible shock they had received They looked
on in awe and wonder, while the bleeding rem
nants of the defeated Confederate army
gathered about their COlOrs ready
10 obey any command of their beloved chieftain,
History records but one Gettysburg. No other
battle 50 determined and destructive has ever been
fought
At Nashville the half starved and ha- clad skee-
ton of the once magnificent Army Of Tennessee
was hopelessly defeated and driven from the field,
routed and disorganized In the dead of winter,
baref1Oted, without clothes, without food over the
frozen ground across the rivers and the mountains
harGssed NJ every step by = relentless enomy this
patriotic and heroic remnant of this brave and
noble army ,marChed hundreds of miles, united with
the army in North Carolina apd fought In the lnat
battles with the same nvinclble cour ge and spirit
that had given them distinction aud fame in the
earlier battles of the war.
In all the great engagements, UNPARALLELED in
their ferocty the defeated army Invariably retired
and reorganized, and prepared TO renew the strug-
gle. As long as the immortal Lee had an army he
could fight, and his worn and ragged followers did
fight against force thatit was impossible for them
to resist until their great leader, en-
comprised by ruin on every side halted
his command at AppomattoX and
the Army of Northern Virginia and the Confade